cabman



(No Model.) Q I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. P. OARMAN,

. CABLE GRIP. I No. 288,690. Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. P. OVARMAN."

CABLE GRIP; No. 288,690. I Patented Nov. 20', 1883;

UNITED I ST TES- PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. CARMAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CABLE-GRIP.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,690, datedNovember 20, 1883.

Application filed September 11, 1883. (No model.)

. ground tube or tunnel, the car being connected with it by a suitablegripping device passing down through a slot in the road-bed.

My invention consists in a grip having flexible or jointed jaws, meansfor retaining the cable between the jaws when partially opened, and forthrowing it out completely when desired, and a-peculiar lever-and-pawlmechanism for operating the jaws to grip or release the cable, all ofwhich I shall hereinafter fully explain by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of my grip. Fig. 2is a side elevation and vertical section through the jaws of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a grip adapted to conformitself to curvatures in the line of travel of the cable, to be operatedreadily and rapidly, and to retain or throw off the cable whennecessary, all its parts op crating with effectiveness and advantage.

A is the frame, carrying the lower jaw, B. C is the upper jaw, slidingin the frame and actuated by bar D, which passes up through the frame orbar E, by which the grip is hung or secured in the dummy or car. Theupper end of the bar D is jointed at d, and is pivoted in theelbow-shaped end of the operating-lever S, which is pivoted at its angleate in the 'top of an extension-frame, c, of bar E. The frame Aissuspended from the bar E by means of arms a. The general operation ofthese parts is obvious. The movement of lever S raises and lowers thelifting-bar D, and through it the upper jaw, O, to release or grip thetraveling cable between itself and the lower jaw.

Agreat difticulty has heretofore been encountered in making cable-carsturn curves or corners. The chief obstacle has been the want of asuitable gripping device adapted to conform itself to thecurves andfollow readily the course of the cable. This result I accomplish bymaking the jaws B (J jointed, so that they may bend themselves as thecable bends, and still keep hold without strain. The jaws B O are madein parts, jointed at b c by any kind of hinge which will permit lateralbending. I have here shown a mortise-and-tenon joint or hinge. Both jawsare provided with removable shoes or faceplates, so that they mayberenewed when necessary. The jaws being thus adapted to bend, the frameA must likewise move to permit the movement of the jaws. Accordingly thetop of arms a arejournaled or pivoted, by means of pins or bolts 19, insockets or bearings 11 in the bar E, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

To hold the jaws rigid when desired, I have pins 11, passing downthrough bar E into the tops of arms a. Upon a straight road these pinsare allowed to remain inserted, as there is no need for the jaws tobend; but upon ap- I proaching a curve they are withdrawn, and the jawsare free to conform themselves to the course of the cable.

In the ordinary gripping devices, wherein a lever is used to operate thejaws, it is made to engage with a curved bow-rack, to hold'it in anydesired position. This large rack isinconvenient, and very much in theway. I dispense with it entirely by the use of the followingconstruction: Upon one end of the hanging bar E is pivoted a guide-bar,T, bent or angled at 15. Its upper end is bifurcated and embraces theoperating-lever S, which is pro vided with' a long slot, 8, throughwhich a cross-pin, t, passes from the guide T. I11

the forked endof guide T is pivoted at its angle, a pawl, Q, actuated bya spring, q, and engaging with a series of teeth or ratchets, 8 formedon the edge of the lever S. In order to disengage the pawl, to permitthe free operation of the lever, I have a rod, U, passing down through abeveled socket, a, in the pawl, and attached above to-the angle of abent lever, V, pivoted on the main lever S. NVhen the lever V is pressedin, the rod U forces back and up the pawl Q, disengaging I it from therack. When released, the spring q returns the parts to' position. In theends of jaw B are mounted spindles H, in the slotted ends of which are journaled grooved face-pulleys I. These are in line,with the lower jaw,

Ion

and travel normally in a vertical plane, the

, cable resting upon them. Near each end of jaw B is made arecess, i, inwhich operate pinions h, Fig. 2, upon the inner ends of spindles II.These mesh with vertical racks J, extending up in guides in the frame A,said racks being adapted to be raised and lowered by means of pins orlugs Z, which extend into slots 9' in the faces of the racks. The pinsare secured to short arms 1", which project from each end of the slidingjaw C. When the sliding jaw is simply raised to release the cabletemporarily, the pins Z do not reach the top of slots j, and thereforedo not affect the racks; but when it is desired to throw the cable offentirely, the sliding jaw is raised higher until its pins Z come incontact with the top of slots \Vhen the racks are raised, these move thepinions h,

' elevated to be out of the way.

turn the spindles H, and oscillate the pulleys I, turning them down to ahorizontal, and carrying off the cable from the jaws. To return theracks to position, I have springs Y, as shown, under the influence ofwhich the pulleys are returned again to a vertical plane.

In order to confine the cable between the jaws, when temporarilyseparated, I mount vertical rollers K under the front edge of the up perjaw. These are adapted to fit in sockets is, prepared for them in thelower jaw. iVhen the jaws are separated but little, the rollers K guardthe opening; but when the jaw G is raised high enough to throw the cableoff, as heretofore described, the rollers are sufficiently The upperjaw, 0, being jointed, Ihave a cross-head, d, on the bar D,whichequalizes the strain on the whole length of the jaw.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cable grip, the meeting jaws for gripping the cable, said jawsbeing flexible or jointed in two or more parts, to enable them toconform to curves and variations in the line of travel, substantially asherein described.

. 2. In aeable-grip, the pivoted frame A and lower jointed or flexiblejaw, B, in combination with the jointed or flexible upper jaw, O,

mounted to reciprocate in frame A, and means for reciprocating it,substantially as herein described.

3. In a cable-grip, the supporting or suspending frame or bar E, theframe A, having arms a, pivoted or j ournaled in bar E, and the flexibleor jointed lower jaw, B, in combination with the flexible or jointedupper jaw, O, and means for reciprocating it, substantially as hereindescribed.

4. In a cable-grip, the supporting or suspending frame or bar E, theframe A, having arms a, pivoted in said bar, the locking-pins 1),through said bar into arm a, for holding the frame A rigid, and theflexible or jointed lower jaw, 13, in combination with'the flexible orjointed upper jaw, O, and means for reciprocating it, substantially asherein described.

5. Ina cable-grip, the flexible or jointed sliding upper jaw, O, incombination with the lifting and depressing bar D, having crosshead d,bearing on all the joints of the upper jaw to equalize the pressure,substantially as herein described.

6. In a cable-grip, the supporting frame or bar E and the lower jaw, incombination with the upper jaw, G, and the means for reciprocating andadjusting it, consisting of the jointed bar D, pivoted elbow-lever S,having slot 8, and ratchet s, the pivoted angled guide T, having pin it,fitting said slot, the spring-pawl Q in said guide. and engaging withratchet, and the pivoted angled lever V, and rod U, connected with saidpawl for disengaging it, substantially as herein described.

7. In a cable-grip, loosely-mounted pulleys connected with the grip andsustaining the cable in front and rear, in combination with thereciprocating jaw of the grip, and suitable devices connected with saidjaw, and the pulleys whereby, upon the opening of said grip by themovement of the jaw, said pulleys may be turned to carry the cable awayfrom the grip, substantially as herein described.

8. In a cable-grip, the lower jaw and the cable-sustaining verticalpulleys mounted on oscillating spindles or shafts in each end of thejaw, in combination with means operated by the reciprocating upper jawwhen opening to oscillate said shafts and turn the pulleys toward ahorizontal to throw the cable from the grip, substantially as hereindescribed.

9. In a cable-grip, the lower jaw and the cable-sustaining verticalpulleys mounted on oscillating spindles or shafts in each end of thejaw, in combination with the means for oscillating said shafts andturning the pulleys to throw the cable away from the grip, consisting ofthe sliding slotted racks J, the arms r on the sliding upper jaw, havingpins Z, fitting the slotted racks, and the pinions h on the oscillatingshafts, substantially as herein described.

10. In a cable-grip, the lower jaw having the sockets 7c in the edge ofits face, in combination with the reciprocating upper jaw, having thevertical rollers K in the edge of its face, and adapted, when said jawis raised partially to guard the cable, and when closed down to enterthe sockets, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BENJAMIN F. CARMAN.

Witnesses:

O. D. COLE, J. H. BLOOD.

